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In this Alpinestars-provided video, Dani Pedrosa sits down and answers some questions from fans in a new series A-Stars calls “Ask Me Something.” The premise is simple: users submit their questions via social media, and the athlete answers the popular or unique submissions in front of a film crew. Continue Reading »
Last week, Bell released an image teasing a new open-face helmet with some sort of detachable mask. Bell said it would reveal the new helmet next week but it looks like retailer Revzilla has let the secret out, revealing the all-new Bell Rogue helmet.
As shown in the teaser image, the most noticeable feature of the DOT-approved Bell Rogue is the muzzle made of molded thermoplastic polyurethane. The muzzle is vented with a micro-fleece interior. There’s also a removable breathbox that’s fleece-lined, designed to provide an extra level of protection from cold winds.
The muzzle itself is detachable using fasteners from a German company called Fidlock. The muzzle attaches magnetically to a strap with an adjustable length that ratchets into the helmet shell. The muzzle snaps right into the strap for quick attachment even when wearing the helmet, but the muzzle can only be removed when the helmet is off, by sliding it up from its connection point. Continue Reading »
Vespa announced a new line of scooter helmets decorated with crystals by Swarowski Elements.
The new line is comprised of two helmets, the Mont Blanc white visored GTS Crystal, pictured above, and the Etna brown Softouch Crystal. Both helmets are decorated with crystal elements in a wave-inspired pattern, with some arranged to form Vespa logos, and red white and green elements to represent the colors of the Italian flag.
The helmets are constructed with an ABS shell, Alcantara trim, and a breathable anti-allergen lining. The Vespa Crystal helmets will be available in sizes XS to XL. Continue Reading »
Called the Endless Summer Giveaway, Bell Powersports is running a contest on its Facebook page to give away one helmet a day for 28 days in June.
The contest began on June 1 and will run through June 28. Bell will select seven winners every Thursday from the previous week’s entrants to receive a new bell helmet.
Arai retained the top spot on J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study, sharing top honors with Icon.
The J.D. Power and Associates study measures the customers’ satisfaction with their helmets. Brands are scored on a 1,000-point scale generated from 11 different attributes: quietness; ventilation; de-fogging performance; face shield wind protection; face shield scratch resistance; ease of replacing face shield; shell scratch resistance; color and graphic; weight; ease of strap fastening; and fit and comfort.
Arai is back on top for the 13th consecutive time, tied with Icon with an overall score of 852, well above the industry average of 788 (a new record high in the study’s 13-year history). According to J.D. Power and Associates, Arai rated well across all 11 attributes, especially fit and comfort and face shield wind protection. Icon rated high in color and graphics. Shoei, which rated second in last year’s study, dropped to third this year despite increasing its rating and performing well in ease of shield replacement.
The study also found some other interesting trends. Customers are more likely to buy helmets over the Internet than ever before, with 23% of helmet owners purchasing their headgear online, compared to just 20% in 2010. The average helmet purchase price was $209 in 2010, a small increase from the industry average of $206, and the $203 average from 2007.
The Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study also re-affirmed data from J.D. Power and Associates’ latest Motorcycle Competitive Information Study: motorcycle riders are an aging demographic. The median age of a new helmet buyer is 48, a consistent increase from the 2000 study.
| J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study |
|||
| Brand | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
| Arai | 852 | 836 | 830 |
| Icon | 852 | 826 | 806 |
| Shoei | 831 | 827 | 815 |
| Harley-Davidson | 800 | 815 | 790 |
| Scorpion | 800 | 785 | 782 |
| Industry Average | 788 | 784 | 766 |
| Bell | 781 | 777 | 722 |
| Nolan | 774 | 758 | 752 |
| HJC | 761 | 757 | 738 |
| Fulmer | 759 | 769 | 730 |
Press release after the jump.
Related Reading
2010 JD Power helmet satisfaction study
Customer Satisfaction Down in 2010
Unlike with most athletes, motorcycle racers’ faces remain hidden during competition. Except for promotional events or pre- and post-race interviews, the faces of our racing heroes are shielded under protective helmets with tinted visors. You don’t see the same human emotion in their faces like you can when soccer players score a goal or baseball players hit a home run.
But one thing helmets provide is a canvas for racers to express their creativity and personality.
The 2009 MotoGP Championship is almost complete, so we thought we’d take a look at some of the top helmet designs from the season. Here’s our list of the most interesting helmet designs for 2009. Let us know what you think about our choices or suggest ones we missed.
J.D. Power and Associates who do independent and unbiased surveys and polls have gathered information on customer satisfaction of motorcycle helmets.
The study measures the overall satisfaction of motorcyclists with their new helmet in three key factors: ventilation, face shield, and design and styling; which consist of 11 attributes: quietness; ventilation/air flow; de-fogging; face shield ability to keep wind out; face shield ability to resist scratching; ease of replacing face shield; scratch resistance of shell; color/graphic design; weight; ease of fastening the strap; and fit and comfort.
Interesting. This is an excellent buying tip for those of you who need new helmets. So who won?
Arai pulled ahead scoring 830 points on a 1,000 point scale (that’s a lot of points).
If you are shopping for a helmet, we recommend picking up a full face helmet as it can protect your pretty smile from flying debris on the road. Also note that in a crash a helmet improves your chance of survival by 37% so WEAR ONE!
Head to Motorcycle.com’s Motorcycle Rider Safety and Training section for more tips.
Updated: Re-ordered for awesomeness!
See the full article for the top 5 ranked helmets from J.D. Power and Associates along with some pics.
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month so we here at The Sidecar and Motorcycle.com want to make you AWARE!
The lovely folks at Motorcycle.com have posted an interesting article on the SEE system. Search, Evaluate and Execute. This handy acronym is to help remind you, as a motorcycle rider, to make yourself visible on the road to other vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when compared to operators of a passenger vehicle, motorcyclists on American highways in 2006 had a 35 times greater chance of being killed per vehicle mile traveled.
Studies show that because motorcycles are much smaller, they may not be “seen” or fully, consciously registered in the minds of other motorists.
35 times greater!
It’s a cruel world out there, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation believe it all comes down to you to protect yourself.
Head over to Motorcycle.com to read their article on how to use the SEE system to make sure you are seen on the road. Check out our related posts below to see more on motorcycle safety.
Recommended Ages: Rated E for Everyone
Who Has It: Anyone who sells video games should have it ( BestBuy for example )
How Much: $59.99
They’re not old enough yet to be speeding around a track at ridiculous speeds but at least they can pretend to be and MotoGP will put them in the riders seat. Capcom just released this video game this fall so it should be on any gamer/rider’s radar.
Features include:
As long as you have an Xbox 360, or Playstation 2/3, or even a capable PC, you can immerse yourself in this riding simulator and flip out on a rain soaked track safely and soundly. Motorcycle.com will have a review up for it soon, so keep an eye out on their video game section.
Check out 4 more gift ideas after the “jump”